California Chrome's Triple Crown bid squashed

Tim Wilkin

Updated 12:45 am, Sunday, June 8, 2014

California Chrome, second from left,, runs in traffic behind Tonalist, left, and General A Rod (10) and as they head down the backstretch during the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Elmont, N.Y. Tonalist went on to win the race, denying California Chrome the Triple Crown victory. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Photo: Jason DeCrow, Associated Press

Elmont, N.Y. -- It was all over for California Chrome as soon as the starting gate opened in the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park early Saturday evening.

With a howling crowd of 102,199 screaming and yelling and hoping and pleading for thoroughbred racing's first Triple Crown since 1978, California Chrome's wonderful rock-hard body betrayed him in the demanding 1 1/2-mile Belmont, the longest of the three races in the spring classic series.

As California Chrome, the 4-5 favorite, sprang out of the gate, his right hind leg inadvertently kicked his right front leg. In this game, it's called grabbing a quarter, and it's particularly painful on the animal. In human terms, it would be comparable to ripping off a whole fingernail.

"Maybe that foot got to stinging him," Art Sherman, California Chrome's 77-year-old trainer, said as he walked briskly back to the barn on the Belmont backstretch. "It's just hard to run on a track when you grab your quarter. Very painful. We might have an excuse."

California Chrome, who had won six straight races, including impressive wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, could only finish fourth -- in a dead heat with Wicked Strong. Despite his bad wheel, California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza, was only beaten by 13/4 lengths by the upset winner Tonalist, who won the race at 9-1 odds.

Tonalist caught 28-1 shot Commissioner in the last jump to win the race by a head.

As exciting a finish as the race was, there was hardly any sound being made from the mob that had stuffed Belmont Park. The reason they had come to New York by planes and trains and automobiles was to see a run at history. Affirmed was the last horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in the same spring. California Chrome becomes the 13th horse since 1978 to come to the Belmont with a chance to win the Triple Crown. All of them failed. I'll Have Another scratched in 2012.

"This is the 13th excuse," trainer Dale Romans, whose Medal Count finished third, said as he walked through the paddock when the day was done. "Something is always happening. It just shows you how hard it is to win the Triple Crown."

Sherman didn't know something was wrong with the horse until after the race. That's when the bloody gash could be seen on California Chrome's front right leg. When California Chrome was walked back to his barn after a stop in the test barn, was he showing a slight limp? Maybe.

Sherman had figured that if California Chrome was right, he would have been spurting away from the other 10 Belmont horses heading into the stretch. That burst of acceleration never came.

"He was kind of hanging with them," Sherman said. "I said, `Uh-oh,' he doesn't have that kick today."

Trainer Billy Gowan, whose Ride On Curlin was supposed to challenge California Chrome after finishing second to him in the Preakness, never showed up. He was eased at the quarter pole. Ride on Curlin, Gowan said, bled a little bit during the race but was fine otherwise.

He could only shrug his shoulders at his bad luck; but he marveled at how gutsy California Chrome was despite his injury.

"That dang sure could have cost him (the race)," Gowan said. "I've seen horses grab a quarter and they haven't run as good as (California Chrome) did. It's painful. You are there bleeding and your flesh is being torn up ... you are getting into the meat. It's gonna hurt. I've seen horses pull up after that. Shows you how much heart he's got."

California Chrome came up short in his bid to be a thoroughbred immortal. And now the Triple Crown drought will be 37 years next year.

"It's been a helluva run," Sherman said. "We won the Derby and the Preakness. I can see why this is the toughest race to win in the Triple Crown. You have to have an extra special horse to do it and everything has to go just right."